Three home runs and 20 strikeouts recipe for staving off elimination

WENHAM, Mass. (May 3, 2019) -- Salve Regina University sophomore Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H.), the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Pitcher of the Year, led her softball team to a pair of postseason wins in elimination games at Gordon College. In the morning start against Nichols College, Nelson held the Bison scoreless on four hits and one walk while striking out eight in a 7-0 final. The Seahawks (23-19) then traveled to Beverly, Mass., for the scheduled site of their next contest. However, with the Endicott College field now flooded after the No. 1 seed's 6-2 loss to No. 2 University of New England, Salve Regina returned to Wenham to face the "home" team Scots in another elimination game. Salve Regina built a 6-0 lead and held on for a 6-3 win over Gordon after the Scots scored three unearned runs after two were out in the top of the seventh. Nelson struck out 12 in the nightcap.

Salve Regina advances to the championship round with the Gulls and Nor'easters, and will play Endicott at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Second-team All-CCC designated player Maddie Machado (Westport, Mass.) launched a solo homer to left field in the second inning against Nichols. Third-team All-CCC third baseman Nikki Vanelli (Quakertown, Pa.) homered down the left field line two innings later for a 3-0 lead.

Later in the fourth, Lauren Packer (Manchester, Conn.) singled to right center to score second-team All-CCC catcher Holly Kathios (Pelham, N.H.).

First-team All-CCC shortstop Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.) lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth for a 5-0 lead before third-team outfielder Jaycee Garrigan (Uxbridge, Mass.) singled in Vanelli, and Kathios scored the final run against the Bison (17-19-1) on an error.

Kathios had RBI singles in the first and third innings against Gordon (20-20). Garrigan started a three-run fourth with a solo blast to center field. Megan Guest scored on a passed ball after reaching base with a walk and advancing with a wild pitch and ground out. Second-team All-CCC outfielder Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.) doubled and advanced to third on a throw and came home on the single up the middle by Riley.

Nelson had allowed just one hit to the Scots through the first six innings. Kristen Brown led off the seventh reaching on an error. Catilin Catalanotto singled to right and Rose Shannon walked to load the bases with one out. Nelson got her second punchout of the inning before Gabby Hunt lifted a three-run double to right field. Nelson got her 20th K of the day for the final out.